Tipifarnib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Malignant Glioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed intracranial primary malignant glioma * Glioblastoma multiforme * Anaplastic astrocytoma\* * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma\* * Anaplastic mixed oligodendroglioma\* * Malignant astrocytoma (not otherwise specified)\* NOTE: \*Closed to accrual effective 5/28/2002 * Progressive or recurrent disease confirmed by MRI or CT scan within the past 14 days * Stable steroid dose for at least 5-7 days * Confirmation of true progressive disease by PET scan, thallium scan, MR spectroscopy, or surgery if prior therapy included interstitial brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery * Failed prior radiotherapy * Phase I (phase I completed effective 10/2/2001): No more than 2 prior chemotherapy or cytotoxic regimens, including 1 prior adjuvant therapy and 1 prior regimen for progressive or recurrent disease, or 2 prior regimens for progressive disease * Phase II (phase II open only to patients requiring resection and who provide surgical tissue samples \[effective 3/13/2003\]): No more than 2 prior chemotherapy or cytotoxic regimens for relapsed disease following initial therapy (radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy) * Prior surgical resection for relapsed disease with no anticancer therapy for up to 12 weeks followed by another surgical resection is considered 1 relapse * Patients who received prior therapy for a low-grade glioma with a surgical diagnosis of a high-grade glioma are considered to be in first relapse PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * More than 8 weeks Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No uncontrolled high blood pressure * No unstable angina * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No severe nonmalignant systemic diseases or active infections * No other severe concurrent disease that would preclude study therapy * No allergy to azoles (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, or voriconazole) * HIV negative PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 1 week since prior interferon * No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy * No concurrent routine prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) during first course of study * No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF) Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, suramin, or mitomycin) * At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine * At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine * No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen * Concurrent corticosteroids allowed * No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior resection and recovered * Prior recent resection of recurrent or progressive tumor allowed Other: * Recovered from all prior therapy (excluding neurotoxicity or alopecia) * Prior radiosensitizers allowed * Concurrent H2 blockers and antacids allowed provided taken at least 2 hours before and after tipifarnib * No concurrent proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole or lansoprazole) * No other concurrent medication that would preclude study therapy (e.g., immunosuppressive agents) * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational drugs * No concurrent participation in any other clinical study * No other concurrent medications except analgesics, chronic treatments for concurrent medical conditions, or agents for life-threatening medical problems